OTD E0256 — 14 Jul 1989: Oscar Ruggeri is sent off against Uruguay in Copa América — six days after being sent off against Uruguay in Copa América. This episode traces the Argentina-Uruguay Río de la Plata rivalry from the South American Championship, the 1928 Olympic final and the 1930 World Cup final, Ruggeri’s hard-man career, his Boca-to-River betrayal and Superclásico fire, Argentina and Uruguay’s paths through Copa América 1989, the first red card on July 8, the second on July 14, Rubén Sosa’s goals, and why Ruggeri’s six-day double remains so strange.

Ideas: otd@17lawsguy.com

OTD E0255 — 13 Jul 1930: France beat Mexico 4-1 at Estadio Pocitos in Montevideo in the first World Cup match. This episode traces Jules Rimet, FIFA’s break from Olympic amateurism, the 1928 Amsterdam Congress, Uruguay’s selection as host, the winter chaos and unfinished Centenario, why France-Mexico opened the tournament, the first lineups, referee Domingo Lombardi, Lucien Laurent’s first World Cup goal, Alex Thépot’s injury, Juan Carreño’s Mexican reply, and how Pocitos grew into 3,000 goals, 50 million spectators, and the 2030 centenary return to Montevideo.

Ideas: otd@17lawsguy.com

OTD E0254 — 12 Jul 1998: France win their first World Cup, beating defending champions Brazil 3–0 at the Stade de France. This episode traces France’s long road from 1938, 1958 and Euro 84 to Aimé Jacquet’s 1998 team, Brazil’s reigning champions and Ronaldo the Phenomenon, both teams’ dramatic routes to the final, the shocking team-sheet confusion after Ronaldo’s pre-match medical episode, Zidane’s two headers, Petit’s stoppage-time goal, and how the night shaped France, Brazil and Ronaldo’s redemption in 2002.

Ideas: otd@17lawsguy.com